Switch mechanism



July 17, 1928. 1,677,523

H. G. BAXTER ET AL SWITCH MECHANISM Filed April 25. 1921 2 Sheets-Sheet1 INVENTOR Harv/o 6. Baxter &

Wwa /dw TTORNEY July 17, 1928. 1,677,323

' H. s. BAXTER ET AL SWITCH HECHANI SM Filed April 25. 1921 2Sheets-Sheet' 2 I 4 F/ a 3 WITNESSES! v INVEN OFP Hero/0 G. Baxter a I.WW-

Patented July 17, 1928.

- UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

HAROLD G. BAXTEB, OF BALDWIN, NEW YORK, AND HUBERT K. KRANTZ,OF-WILKINS- BUBG, PENNSYLVANIA, ASSIGNORS TO WESTINGHOUSE ELECTRIC ANDMANU- FACTURING COMPANY, A CORPORATION OF PENNSYLVANIA.

V SWITCH MECHANISM.

Application filed April 25, 1921. SeriaLNo. 464,168.

Our invention relates to switch mechanism and particularly to switchmechanism of the safety enclosed type.

One object of our invention is to provide a switch box wherein a switchand fuse mechanism is enclosed therein and wherein the box is providedwith a hinged cover having an opening through which the fuse elementsare accessible and which is closed by a door. 1

Another object of our invention is to provide a switch box, having theabove characteristics, wherein the cover is held latched n closedposition so long as the sw1tch s in closed position and wherein the dooris so interlocked with the switch that the latter cannot be closed solong as the door s in open position or the switch closed until the dooris substantially in fully closed position.

Another object of our invention is to provide a switch box of the abovedescribed character wherein the interlocking mechanism for the switchand the covers is of simple and durable construction and which may bereadily manufactured and assembled.

These and other objects, that will be made apparent throughout thefurther description of the invention, are attained by means of theswitch mechanism hereinafter described, and'illustrated intheaccompanying drawin s, wherein:

Figure l is a mechanism;

Fig.2 is a section throu h the housing of the switch mechanism ta en onthe line 11-11 of Fig. l and showing the switch mechanism in sideelevation; and

Fig. 3. is a sectional view through the housing taken on the lineIII-III of Fig. 1 and showing the switch mechanism in end elevation.

Referring to the drawings, the apparatus includes a housing comprising abottom wall 1, end walls 5, and side walls 6. The housing is, rovidedwith a sheet metal cover 7 that is iinged to one side of the housing by.means of the hinges 8. An opening 9 is provided in the cover 7 which isclosed by a door 11 that is hinged to the cover by means of the hinges12.

The switch and front view of the switch fuse mechanism comprises aninsulating base or panel 13 that is secured to the bottom of the housingand which is jof the screws. 25 and 26.

rovided with three sets of pivot jaw memers 14 to which are pivoted theswitch blade members 15. The switch jaw members 16 are disposed oppositethe pivot jaw members and are adapted to receive the free ends of theswitch blade members 15.

The switch blade members are operated by an operating bar 17 that ispivoted to the sides 6 of the housing and is connected with the switchblade members 15 through the medium of an insulating bar 18 which isattached to the switch blade members. The bar 18 is provided with a pairof brackets 19 which are engaged by the operating bar 17 in such amanner that the switch blade members may be moved to open or to closedposition thereby.

Fuse clip members 21 are mounted upon the panel 13 forthe purpose ofreceiving.

are adjacent to the pivot jaw members 14 are connected thereto by meansof conductors 23. The line terminals (not shown) are adapted to beconnected to the switch jaw members 16 and the load terminals (notshown) are adapted to be connected to the fuse clip members 21. It willbe apparent from the foregoing that, when the switch is in openposition, the fuse clip members 21 are disconnected from the circuit andthe fuses may be removed or replaced without in'ury to the operator.

he fuse clip membersare disposed directly beneath the opening 9 in thecover 7 and are accessible theretln'ough. It is an object of thisinvention to so interlock the door 11 that.the door cannot be opened solong as the switch is in closed position. It is another object toprevent closing movement of the switch so long as the door is open or solong as it occupies any position other than the fully closed position.

'With these and other objects in view, the operating bar 17 is providedwith a locking plate 24 which is attached thereto by means This plate isof irregular shape and is provided with notches 27 and 28, the purposeof which will hereinafter appear.

a The door is provided with a latch bar 29 which is mounted in guidemembers 30 that are secured to the underside of the door and in whichthe latch bar 29 may be reciprocated.

One end of the latch bar 29, when in latched or closed position,projects beneath the cover 7 adjacent the edge of the opening 9 thereinand serves to hold the door in closed position. The other end of thelatch bar is pivoted at 31 toa locking lever 32 that is pivoted at 33 tothe underside of the door 11. This lever is provided, at its free end,with an inwardly extending projection 34 that normally lies at one sideof the locking plate '24 and serves to prevent unlatching move ment ofthe latch bar 29 so long as the end 35 of the locking plate 24 liesacross its path, as indicated in Fig. 2, wherein the switch is shown inclosed position.

When the switch is in open position, th locking plate occupies theposition indicated in dotted lines in Fig. 2 and the locking lever 32may then be so moved as to permit unlatching movement of the latch bar29. A helical spring 36, which is attached at one end to the undersideof the door 11 at 37, is attached at the other end to the locking lever32 at 38, and serves to normally'retain the latch bar 29 in closedposition.

It will be apparent from the foregoing that the door cannot be opened solong as the switch is in closed position, as shown in Fig. 2, and that,when the locking plate 24 has been moved out of the path of theprojection 34 by reason of the opening movement of the switch, the door11 may be unlatched and moved to open position.

The locking plate 24 is so designed that it prevents opening movement ofthe latching bar 29 until the switch is substantially in fully openposition wherein the notch 28 registers with the projection 34.Therefore, unless the switch is in fully open position, the door 11cannot 'be unlatched.

In order to prevent closing movement of the switch so long as the door11 is open or except when the door is in fully closed position, the door11 is provided with a disc 39.

having its peripheral edge curved concentric tothe hinge of the door.The disc is provided with an extension 41 that projectsinvwardly'through a slot 42 provided in the cover 7. When the switch isin open position, the end 43 of the locking plate 24 clears theprojection 41 of the disc and permits opening movement of the door. Whenthe door has been moved toward open position a slight degree, theprojection 41 crosses the path of movement of the end 43 of the lookingplate 24 and prevents closing movement I of the switch. By reason ofthis arrange- .ment, the switch is held in fully open position so longas the door occupies any position other than the fully open position atwhich time the extension -41 occupies the position indicated in Fig. 3wherein. closing movement of the locking plate 24 is permitted. It willbe apparent from the foregoing that the door 11 must be fully closedthat snaps over the edge of theslot '45 and.

'75" foration 47 through whichtl1e"'hasp of a normally retains the cover7 in closed 'position. The latch 44'isp'rovided' with a"'per padlock maybe inserted when it is desired to lock the cover 7 closed positionr Theoperating bar may be actuated by any desired form of handle, suchas,"for instance,

an o crating handle 48 having a quick makeandr'eak mechanism that isenclosed 'ina housing 49 that .isattached to the "exterior ofthe'housing. The operatinginechanism for the operating bar 17.1forms nopart 0t I this particularinvention and is, therefore, not described indetail. a

A bracket 51, which'is secured to the side of the housing, as indicatedinFigs. 1 and 3, is provided with a series, of perforations 52 throughwhich the hasp of a'padlo'ck may be inserted after it has been loopedaround the handle 48 in such mannerthat it prevents closing movement ofthe switch. 'By

reason of the arrangement whereby the cover 7 is locked in closedposition by means of a key-actuated lock,fon1y authorized personsmayopen the cover. Thecover may be opened independently of the 'switchinterlock and the switch may" therefore beinspected while in open, orclosed position.

It will be apparent from the foregoing that the construction is simpleand the looking mechanism is positive in its action and that access maynot be had to the fuses un- 'less'the switch is in open position.

While we have described and illustrated but one embodiment of ourinvention, it will be apparent to those skilled in theart, that variouschanges, modifications, substitutions, additions and omissions may bemade in theapparatus, illustrated without; departing .from the spiritand scope of the invention,

as set forth in the appended claims.

We claim as our invention v 1. Switch mechanism com rising a hous ing, ahinged cover for the casing having an opening therein, a door for theopening,

a switch within the housing, a latch for the door, an interlock for saidlatch, an 'extension on the door, and a plate actuated by the switch andmovable across the path of the latch interlock and the'said extensionfor preventing releasing movement of the latch to permit openingmovement of the door so long as the switch is in closed position, saidplate havingv recesses which register with said extension and saidlatchinterlock when the switch is in its open position. I

2. In combination, a switch box having a movable cover, a latch for saidcover and interlock members connected to said cover and said latch, aswitch havin member movable therewith, said p ate member having aplurality of recesses therein, certain of which register with the coverinterlock member in both' the open and the closed position of the switchand one of which registers with the latch interlock v a plate member inthe open. position only of the 10 switch.

In testimony whereof, we have hereunto subscribed our names this 30thday of March, 1921, and this 12th day of April, 1921, respectively.

HAROLD G. BAXTER. HUBERT K. KRANTZ.

